[dave.lloyd]

I'm going to be commuting this winter on my Trek L200. We don't get tons of snow here in STL, but we do get ice. Plus, they don't plow the side streets in the city, so compacted snow that goes through a few freeze/thaws can stick around for weeks in the shadows of buildings. Anyway, I'm thinking that studded snow tires might be cheaper than upping my disability insurance.

I've looked at the Nokians, but they don't seem to have a reflective stripe or dynamo strip on the sidewall (I use the bottle generator on my L200, plenty of light for in the city). The Schwalbe Snow Stud tires look like they do have both of these, but I've also read that the rolling resistance is pretty high. Plus the studs are only on the outside, which may not be much use to me when trying to stop.

Anyone know of some more options or if Nokian makes tires with a reflective stripe and a dynamo strip?

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[dave.lloyd]

Bump...

It's getting closer to snow tire time. Anyone? I e-mailed Nokian, but now response.

[ken cummings]

Dave, I have not heard of generator strips on tires. I can see where a stickier-thicker strip on the side of a tire might help the generator turn and slow wear but a source for them? Maybe it is time for a battery light. Remember at lower temps smaller batteries cool down and stop working quickly. I had troubles like yours for years in Denver, just colder and snowier. I wish I had known about studded tires then. I would have loved such tires no matter how heavy. Survival on the rutted, icy roads would have been worth it.

[PaulH]

Nokians do not have generator tracks molded in them Even a good generator strip and bottle generator will have problems in snow. My solution was to swap the bottle for a hub dynamo. Best thing I did with my bike.

Paul

[sherpa93]

I just purchased 2007? Nokian Mount & Ground W160 26 x 1.9. This tire has generator strips molded in but no reflective sidewall.